Friday night's hero was in street clothes as the Moorpark High football team took the field for the day's practice.

Ian Meier, the Musketeers' senior safety/wide receiver, intercepted two passes — including one he returned 19 yards for a touchdown — and notched seven receptions on offense as Moorpark rolled up a 42-28 victory on the road vs. Hart in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.

On this day, he was inactive as he nursed a bone bruise on his knee. Come this Friday night, Meier promises to be a full participant.

"I'm playing," he said emphatically. "No way I'm missing this game."

Meier may epitomize the icy resolve of a Moorpark squad that faces a major challenge in the quarterfinal round this week. The Musketeers, at 8-3, will play host to No. 3-seeded Sierra Canyon beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

Sierra Canyon also stands 8-3, including an impressive victory over Camino League champion Grace Brethren and tight losses to Marmonte League strongboys Calabasas and Westlake.

"Our guys keep competing," he said. "They keep fighting back. That's the beauty of football, which is more like life than any sport I know. There are ups and downs and lessons that you can apply for the rest of your life.

"We'd had our ups and downs and we're still playing. We're still practicing; we're getting ready to play in the quarterfinals."

Among Moorpark's strengths is a sterling senior class that boasts talent, leadership and experience.

There's the mega-talent in USC-bound wide receiver Drake London. Then there's the next-level-down corps of seniors that features guys like Meier, running back Alec Powell and wide receiver/defensive back Noah Cronquist.

Real-life Musketeers. All for one and one for all.

"One of our strengths is that we've played together for awhile and we know what it takes to win," said Powell. "Our mindset is that we're going to keep playing hard, not matter what happened last week or who we playing this week.

"We're confident as a team. We feel like if we play our game, everything will be all right."

Cronquist agrees.

"We experienced that success last year and I think it gives us an advantage in the playoffs this year," he said. "It definitely helped us last week. Even when we fell behind, we felt like we were the better team. It was a matter of continuing to play our game."

In Sturgill's absence, Cronquist, Powell and London are the leading playmakers easing the load for new starting quarterback Steven McDaniel.

Powell has rushed for a team-high 968 and seven touchdowns. Cronquist is second to London in receptions with 44, yardage with 599 and touchdowns with nine.

London has 554 catches for 996 yards and 12 TDs.

In the critical win over Hart, Cronquist returned an interception 34 yards for a score, London had a 66-yard scoring catch and Powell rushed for 145 yards and one touchdown.

"We have to run the ball well this time of the year," said Powell, a 6-foot, 190-pound tailback. "I like that pressure, and so does the offensive line. We like to pound the football. The ability to do that is a big plus, especially in playoff games."

Powell had his personal profile-in-courage moment this season. He injured an ankle in the first half of the loss to Grace Brethren, and spent the second half on the bench sporting an ice pack.

Despite the painful stretched tendon, he returned to the lineup the next week vs. Camarillo.

"I just had to play," he said. "There's was no way I wasn't going to play against Camarillo. Getting ready was hard, I'll tell you, but it was all worth it."

The good news now? "I'm 100 percent," he said with a grin. "Feeling strong and ready to play."

Powell is a native of Michigan who moved with his family to Moorpark in 2016. He's fit right in with his second family. He said he's become a better person, too.

"It's been a good experience," Powell said. "I was a little immature when I first got here. Football helped me to grow up a lot. I've learned lessons and, hopefully, have become one of the leaders on this team. I'm not ready for the season to end."

Cronquist, at 5-9 and 175 pounds, has evolved into the Musketeers' biggest points-producer this side of Drake London.

He's tied with London with 12 touchdowns, 74 points and a two-point conversion.

"I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win games," he said. "Make things happen. Make a play. Anything to win the game. Whatever it takes, I want to do."

Among his heroic moments was a game-winning catch in the final minute of last season's 27-21 victory over Paramount in the Division 5 semifinals.

"We've had the craziest games these past two years," he said with a grin. "A lot of good things have happened, and a lot of it is because we play as a team. We do this for each other."

Cronquist has made an impact on both sides of ball, but he does have a preference.

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Moorpark, Camarillo, Pacifica and Rio Mesa get defensive in the Plays of the Week: Playoff first round edition
Joe Curley, joe.curley@vcstar.com, 805-437-0276

"I do like offense the best," he said with a smile. "There's nothing like catching the football and making plays."

Meier, meanwhile, considers himself a defender first.

"I'm happiest playing defense," he said. "I like to hit people, even better than getting an interception. I love football because its a physical game."

Meier also serves as a top team leader.

"When I came in, there were guys who showed me the way and how we do things. We've got younger guys coming up for the playoffs, and I want to do the same thing for them," he said.

"This team has a lot of tradition and we want the younger guys to keep it going."